Novelty page having mailer portion



Dec. 1, 1964 w. L. HIERSTEINER NOVELTY PAGE HAVING MAILER PORTION 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5, 1963 INVENTQR. Wd/fer L. H/ersfemen MMW -ATTORNEY Dec. 1, 1964 w. L. HIERSTEINER 3,159,329

NOVELTY PAGE HAVING MAILER PORTION Filed July 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INYENTOR. Wa/fer L fi/erafelne/t ATTORNEY.

Dec. 1, 1964 w. L. HIERSTEINER NOVELTY PAGE HAVING MAILER PORTION 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 5, 1963 ATTORNEY $359,329 Patented Dec. 1,1964 3,159,329 NGVELTY PAGE HAVING MAKER PDRTIGN Walter L. laiersteiner,Mission, Kane, assignor to Tension Envelope tlorporation, a corporationof Delaware Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,102 Claims. (Cl. 229-68)This invention relates to a mailer formed as a portion of one of thepages of a magazine, and which complies with the requirements of postalregulations relating to novelty pages in magazines acceptable as secondclass mail.

Magazine advertisers, and particularly those soliciting replies from thereaders of a magazine, desire practical means of reply to be bound intothe magazine alongside the advertising matter, to make it convenient forthe readers to send orders, inquiries, remittances, and/ or articles tobe processed. Bind-in envelopes with pockets for this purpose are notpermissible in a magazine, because they do not qualify in terms of thenovelty pages acceptable in publications for second class mailing, whichare listed in the postal regulations as follows:

(a) Printed pages bearing words, perforations, or symbols indicatingthey are for detachment.

(1)) Pages having printed pictures for cutting out.

(0) Printed pages having blank spaces for writing or marking.

(d) Pages having printed illustrations pasted to them.

(a) Pages with coupons or application or order forms occupying no morethan one-half the page.

It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide anovelty page having a mailer portion conforming to the above definitionsof permissible novelty pages.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novelty page or pagesconsisting of a single sheet having a mailer portion that is adapted tobe handled and bound into a magazine in the same manner as the regularpages or signatures making up a magazine, or which may be used as aninsert contained between the pages of a magazine; to provide a noveltypage having a mailer portion that does not interfere with the readersturning of the pages of the magazine in which it is bound, in that theentire page is of single thickness and has substantially the sameflexibility as the other pages; to provide a mailer portion that iseasily detached to leave a portion of at least the same area containedin the magazine; to provide the mailer portion with a gummed border,using a dry selfadhering adhesive or a type of gum that sticks only toitself or a remoistening adhesive, so that it may be once folded over anenclosure and the edges brought together for sealing in the enclosure;to provide the area within the gummed border with an order blank or thelike; and to provide the reverse face of the mailer portion with amailing address, a place for a return address, and a stamp.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a mailer portion of anovelty page with a pressure sealing adhesive covering the inside areaand which sticks only to itself, so that a seal may be effected closelyaround the contour of an enclosure, and to provide the mailer portionwith means whereby the mailing piece may be easily gripped to facilitatepeeling open the sealed portions thereof when received by theadvertiser.

A further object of the invention is to provide the mailer portion ofthe novelty page with a gate fold, so that a larger mailer may beprovided, yet leave an attached portion of at least an equal size, toconform with the postal requirement that the detachable portion of anovelty page occupies no more than half the page.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention hereinafterdescribed, I have provided improved construction, the preferred formsbeing illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magazine or similar publication,opened to a novelty page having a mailer portion embodying the featuresof the present invention, and showing the novelty page intact, prior todetachment of the mailer portion.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the mailer portion ofthe novelty page being detached.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mailer portion after detachment andwith an enclosure placed thereon, prior to folding one panel portionover the other to make a seal about the enclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view after the fold has been made and prior tosealing in of the enclosure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view after the seal has been made to completethe mailing piece.

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the mailing piece taken on the line 66of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through the mailing piece, taken on theline 77 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing paper currency beingsealed within the mailer.

FIG. 8A is a plan view of the mailing piece of FIG. 8, showing the smallpoints of the adhesive that space the enclosure from the main stripes ofthe adhesive, and showing the line of cut to be made through the pointswhen opening the mailing piece.

FIG. 9 is a view of a magazine opened to a modified form of noveltypage, wherein the adhesive area on one side of the fold line of themailer portion is shaped to conform to the contour of the enclosure orenclosures and the corresponding area at the other side of the fold lineis solidly covered with adhesive, and illustrating the mailer portionbeing detached.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the mailer of FIG. 9, folded and partlysealed to enclose articles such as coins.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a magazine similar to FIG. 1, butshowing detachment of a further modified form of the invention whereinthe adhesive is one that sticks only to itself and substantially coversthe entire area of the mailer portion.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section of the folded and sealed mailer ofFIG. 11, and particularly illustrating extension of one of the panels tofacilitate grip of the mailing piece for peeling apart of the panelswhen the mailing piece is to be opened.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a magazine similar to FIG. 1, butillustrating a novelty page having a further modified form of mailerportion wherein a conventional remoistening type of adhesive is appliedto margins of only one area, and showing the outer corners rounded toprovide a contoured mailing piece when the mailer portion is folded andsealed. I FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross section through the bindingportion of a magazine, to illustrate a conventional binding and themanner in which the novelty page of the present invention and pages ofthe magazine are secured together.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a magazine opened to a noveltypage'having a still further form of mailer portion and in which themailer portion has a gate fold to provide a larger mailer portion andyet leave a like sized portion of the novelty page remaining in themagazlne.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the mailer portion of FIG. 15 detachedand with the gate fold opened up.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, and first to the form ofinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive:

1 designates a magazine or publication having pages 2 thereof opened toa novelty page 3 constructed in accordancewith the present invention,and which complies with I postal specifications on novelty pages thatare acceptable in magazines mailable under second class postal rates.

7 The novelty page 3 comprises a rectangular sheet 4 having upper andlower edges 56 and side edges 7-8.

The sheet includes two pages, each face of the sheet comprises a pagewhich may be consecutively numbered or skip-numbered in the publication.The sheet 4 may have of the magazine, while in larger magazinesthe sheet4 may be of less height and still provide a novelty page of the desiredheight. The width of the sheet l between the side edges. 7 and 8 isgreater than the width of the pages 2, to provide an integral saddleflap portion 9 adja cent the side edge Tand which is defined in thesheet by a fold it} extending from the upper edge 5 to the lower edge 6at a .point spaced from the side edge 8, to sub- I stantially conformwith the width of the pages in a small magazine, as illustrated. 7However, it is to be understood that the fold it! may be, made toprovide a novelty page of more or less width relatively to the width ofthe magazine pages, again depending upon the width of the novelty pagewhich is'required to providea mailer portion 11 and an advertising copyportion 12, the maximum size of the mailer portion being no more thanthe size of the advertising portion, to comply with paragraph (a) ofSection 132.473 of the Postal Manual. The juncture of the portions 11and 12 is defined by a weakened line of tear,

.as, for example, a line of perforations 13, upon which the mailerportion 11 is subsequently detached, for use thereof as later to bedescribed. I

The advertising portion 11 of the novelty page, as well as the, saddleflap 9, may be provided on both front and back faces with advertisingcopy, as indicated at 14 and 15, describing an advertisers merchandiseor services for which the. advertiser is soliciting an order, inquiry,remittance, and/ or article to be sent .by readers of the magazine. 1

Inset from the edges 5 and 6, the side edge 8, and from the line ofperforations 13 on the side nearest the edge 8, are stripes of adhesive16 and '17 that are connected "at the ends" by stripes of adhesive 18and 19. .It is obvious that the adhesive may extend to the marginaledges if desired. Printed within the frame of adhesive thus provided isanorder blank or other form for making it convenient for a reader toreply to the advertising copy 14 and 15 on the remaining portions of thenovelty page. The in 4 Prior to assembling the novelty page with thepages 2 or signature sections of the magazine, the saddle flap portion 9is folded over one face side of the advertising portion 12, so that thenovelty page, constructed as de scribed, may be handled and bound into amagazine in the same manner and with the same equipment as the regularpages 2. That is, the novelty pages are gathered with the regular pagesin a manner so that the folded edges of the signatures, which includesthe {old it), are registered in stacked relation, after which staples 29are applied (see FIG. 14) to bind the pages together, after which thecover is applied by gluing it to the bound together folds, in a mannerWell known to magazine publisher's. The other edges of the magazine maybe trimmed without cutting into the gummed areas of the mailer portion11 because of the uncoated margins 21, which allow trimming space andstill leave ample edges that are free of adhesive.

A reader noting the novelty page in the magazine and interested in theadvertising copy which may relate, for;

example, to film processing, printing of pictures, making enlargementsand the like, will be induced to try the services of the advertiser dueto the convenience of correspondence made available by the attachedmailer. He will fill out the order blank 20, detach the nrailer bytearing it from the advertising portion 12 along the line of perfora- Itions 13, and turn the mailer. over to bring the outer face uppermost towrite his name and address on the printed lines -26. The mailer isthenturn-ed again tobring the inner face uppermost. A check, paper money'orcoins in payment of the order are placed upon the panel portion 24, asshown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and .7. The paper money may be folded around thecoins that may be required and placed upon the panel. from slidingbetween the stripes of adhesive, the adhesive may be extended inwardlyat points 18-16", FLT-17", 1% and19 on the inner side of the adhesivestripes 16,

17, 13 and 19. With the enclosure centered on the panel 24 between thestripes 16 and 17 and betweenthe stripe 19 and the score 22, and thepanel portion 23 folded over the enclosure, the point 18' makes sealingcontact with the point l9vand the points 16 and 17'' make sealingcontact with the points 16' and 17',Jrespectively, at the time the panelportions are sealed through contact of the setting of the adhesivefromthe edges 5, 6, 8 and perforations 13 leaves an uncoated margin 21completely surrounding the outer edge of the'adhesive, for purposes 7 Ilater to be described. The adhesive is preferably. a ;pres- 'suresealingtype that seals only to itself, so that it does not stick to theopposite page of the magazine when the magazine is closed thereover, orto any object that may come into contact therewith. The mailer portionlIjmay be provided, substantially midway the height thereof, with atransverse line of score 22 that extendsfrom the line of perforations 13to the edge 8, for dividing the mailer 7 portion 11 into upper and lowerpanel portions 23 and 24. I The face of the panel portion .23 oppositeto the order blank 20 is printed upon the face side thereof with thewhich may be the corner adjacent the line of perforations and edge 5, isprinted with lines 26 on which the reader responding to theadvertisement applies his address, as

indicated at 27. The corner within the score 22 and perforations 13 maybe printedwith an area designating the placement of a stamp, asindicated at 28, or that corner of the panel'may be printed with aprepaid stamp.

I name and address 25 of the advertiser, and one corner, 1

stripes of adhesive, as later-described. Therefore, there is a space21'established between the sides of the enscore 22 to make a fold 31 forbringing the panel 23 over the roll of film and money, as shown in FIG.4-. The

marginal edges having the adhesive are then pressed together, to bringthe gum on the inner face of the panel 23 into sealing contact withth'egum on the panel 24, as shown in'FIG. 5, to complete the containermailing piece.

If required, a stamp is applied to'the designated area 28.

When the container mailing piece is received, it is opened by grippingthe loose marginal edges 21 of the panelsand pulling themapart to peelthe panel 23 loose. from the panel 24, or the mailing piece may beopened by'cutting through the fold 31, after which the contents.

may he slid out of the openingthus provided. 'Another Way to open themailing piece would be to cut the entire mailing piece along the space21' and across the points as indicated by the dash line 22' in FIG. 8-A.Thus the cut is made around the enclosure without damage thereto.

In FIG. 8 is illustrated the same mailer as above described, but used ina novelty page bearing an advertisement of, for example, an insurancecompany soliciting insurance premiums. In this case the paper money orcheck would be folded and placed on the panel 24, so

that the panel 23 may be folded over and sealed by pressing the adhesivetogether as previously described. It makes In order to space theenclosure no difierence should the enclosure slightly overlap the pointsof the adhesive, because the adhesive will stick only to itself. FIG. 8illustrates another method of opening the mailing piece. In thisinstance the stripes l6 and 17 end slightly short of the score 22, asindicated at 23, to permit insertion of a letter opener (not shown)between the panel portions 23 and 24 to cut along the fold 31.

FIG. 9 shows the invention incorporated into a novelty page having acoin mailer portion 32. The mailer portion is identical with the mailerportion illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the corresponding parts areidentified by the same numerals, except for application of the adhesive.In this instance pressure sealing adhesive 33 is applied over the lowerpanel 24 in a pattern to provide areas 34 on which coins are placed. Thepanel 23 has a solid coat of adhesive 35 and is folded on the score 22to overlie the coins, as illustrated in FIG. 10, and is pressed to thepanel 24. The adhesive 35' sticks to the adhesive on the panel 24 andclosely seals around the coins, to hold them substantially immovable togive additional security. This is because the coins cannot be shiftedback and forth with suflicient driving force to split the adhesiveapart. If desired, the placement of the coins may be printed on thepanel portion 24 and the adhesive, being transparent, would cover thepanel portions solidly, as shown in FIG. 11.

In opening the mailing piece of FIG. 9, the loose margins 21 of thepanels 23 and 24 might be gripped by the fingers and pressure is appliedto peel the adhesive apart. Since the adhesive sticks only to itself, itdoes not adhere to the coins, and the coins are free upon loosening ofthe panel 24 from the panel 23.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, both panels 23and 24 are solidly coated with pressure sealing adhesive 36 and 37 thatsticks only to itself. Here, again, the marginal edge 21 is'left aroundthe adhesive 36 and 37. If desired, the score 38 on which the fold 31 ismade may be at a point so that when the panels are folded thereon, theedge 39 of the panel 24 will project slightly beyond the edge 40 of thepmel 23, to facilitate opening of the mailing piece, the projecting edge39 making it easier to grip the panels when pulling them apart. In thisform of mailing piece, an enclosure 41, such as paper money, check, orthe like, may be folded, placed on the adhesive area of one of thepanels, and the other panel folded thereover to seal the contactingportions of adhesive around the enclosure, thereby more closelyconfining the enclosure than in the case of the marginal adhesive asshown in the preferred form of the invention. Here, again, the adhesivewill not stick to the enclosure, since it sticks only to itself.

The novelty page of FIG. 13 follows the same construction as the noveltypages previously described except for the application of the adhesive.In this case, the adhesive is of the remoistening type and is appliedonly to the panel 24 in the form of stripes 42 and 43 at the marginalsides of the panel and in an interconnecting stripe 44 at the lowermarginal edge of the panel. Another difference is that the corners ofthe mailer portion, as well as the corners of the advertising copyportion, may be rounded or otherwise shaped, as indicated at 45. Inusing the mailer portion, it is detached on the line of perforations 13exactly in the same manner as in the preferred form of the invention.The adhesive stripes 42, 43 and 4,4 are moistened, and the mailer isfolded on the score 22 to bring the marginal faces of the panel 23 intosealing contact with the moistened adhesive on the panel 24. In thisform of the invention, the mailing piece is best opened by cuttingthrough the panels along the inner side edges of the adhesive stripes.This can be easily effected by a cutting form in a mail opening device,which forms no part of the present invention.

in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 15, the novelty page includesan advertising portion 12 and a mailer portion 11, having a combinedwidth greater than the size of the pages 2. of the magazine 1 in whichthe novelty page is inserted. This is to provide a mailer portion 11 oflarger width than the mailer portion shown in the first described formof the invention. The advertising copy portion 12 corresponds in size tothe mailer portion 11 and is interconnected by the line of perforations13. In this instance, the mailer portion 11 is provided with a fold 47extending longitudinally of the mailer portion, to bring the mailerportion within the limit of the magazine pages 2, as shown in FIG. 15.The mailer portion 11 has a transverse score 22 midway of the lengththereof, and the side marginal edges are provided with adhesive stripes48 and &9 that are offset from each other when the portion 5% of themailer is turned over the face of the advertising portion. in foldedposition, the adhesive 49 is offset from the adhesive 48. In order toseal the ends of the mailer, the marginal upper and lower ends areprovided with adhesive stripes 51 that terminate short of the fold 47,and relatively short adhesive portions 52 that terminate a distance fromthe fold line so that they do not contact the adhesive 51. When thisform of mailer is folded, it is obvious that the mailer will becompletely sealed at the sides thereof, but there will be unsealedspaces 53 at the ends of the mailer. In most instances this is notsufficient to lose an enclosure therethrough.

It is obvious that I have provided a novelty page that comes within thequalifications of a novelty page set out in paragraphs (a) to (e) ofSection 132.473 (e) of the Postal Manual as quoted above, in that itinclude an advertising page having printed thereon advertising copy andhaving a portion of the page prepared with a gummed border for removal,folding and mailing.

The mailing piece thus provided is different fro-m all previous types offolded mailing pieces in that the present novelty mailer contains nopreformed pocket for en closures.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, novelty pages. complying with Postal DepartmentRegulations for second class mailing privileges for insertion in amagazine, said novelty pages comprising (a) a generally rectangularsheet having front and back faces adjacent to pages of the magazine,

(1)) means securing said sheet to said magazine,

(0) a line of detachment on said sheet and dividing same into anadvertising copy portion and a returnable single use mailer portion withthe mailer portion detachable along said line of detachment forsubsequent use only as a container when formed by a user,

([2) said mailer portion including front and back panels having alignededge portions and foldable along a single medial line of fold inoverlying relationship, after the mailer portion has been detached fromthe said sheet by the user, and

(e) adhesive utilized adjacent edge portions of one face of said mailerportion so that when said mailer portion is detached and the edgeportions of said panels are secured together by said adhesive theycooperate to provide a substantially sealed container.

2. In combination, novelty pages complying with Postal DepartmentRegulations for second class mailing privileges for insertion in amagazine, said novelty pages comprising (a) a generally rectangularsheet having front and back faces adjacent to pages of the magazine,

(b) means securing said sheet to said magazine,

(c) a line of detachment on said sheet and dividing same into anadvertising copy portion and a returnable single use mailer portion withthe mailer portion detachable along said line of detachment forsubsequent use only as a container when formed by a user,

(d) said mailer portion including front and back panels having alignededge portions and foldable along a single medial line of fold inoverlying relationship,

for insertion in a magazine, said novelty pages comprising 7 (a) agenerallyrectangular sheet having front and back faces adjacent to pagesof the magazine, (-12) means securing said sheet to said magazine, (c) aline ofdetachment on said sheet and dividing same into an advertisingcopy portion and a returnable single use mailer portion with themailerportion detachable along said line of detachment for subsequentuse only as a container Whenforrned by a user. (d)the dimension of saidsheet being greaterin one direction than the pages of the magazine andhaving 7 a fold parallel with one edge of the mailer portion to bringsaid mailer portion Within outer margins of said pages of the magazine,

mailer portion is offset from the adhesive on the other side of the foldto prevent'sti'cking thereof until the mailer portion i unfolded andfolded transversely by the user to provide said substantially sealedcontainer.

5. In combination, novelty pages complying with Postal DepartmentRegulations for second class mailing e) said mailer portion includingfront and back panels 7 having aligned'edge portions and fioldable alonga 7 single medial line'of fold in overlying relationship, I

' 1 after the mailer portion ha been detached from the said sheet by theuser, and I (f) adhesive utilized adjacent edge portions of one face ofsaid mailer portion so that when said mailer portion is detached and theedge portions of said panels are secured together by said adhesive, theycooperate to pro vide a substantially sealed container; 4. The inventionasset forth in claim 3, wherein the t fold parallel with one edge of themailer portion'is yvithin the area defined by'the edge portions of themailer portion and the adhesive is of a character tostick only to itselfand the adhesive on one sidewof said fold of the privileges forinsertion comprising 7 '(a) a generally rectangular sheet havingf-rontand "back faces adjacent to pages of the magazine,

(5.) means securing said sheet to said magazine,

(c) a line of detachment on said sheet and'dividing same into apermanently secured copy portion and a returnable single use mailerportion with the mailer portion detachable along said line of detachmentfor subsequent use only as a container when formed by a user,

(01) said mailer portion occupying not more than one half the area ofthe pages provided by said sheet, (e) said mailer portion includingfront and back panels having aligned edge portions and foldable a'longasingle medial line of 'foldin overlying relationship, after the mailerportion has been detached from the c said sheet by the user, and

(f) adhesive utilized adjacent edge portions of one I face of saidmailer portion so that when said mailer portion is detached and the edgeportions of said panels are'secured together by said adhesive theycooperateto provide a substantially sealed container.

7 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 576,552 2/97Cook 22992Ll 894,124 7/08 Draernel 22992.l 2,165,195 7/39 Sawdon. i

' 2,168,873 8/39 Cohen 229 92.9 2,67 6,702 4/ 5 4 Whitefoot ,229662,871,601 2/59 WarnoW 229 -71 2,874,892 2/59 Howard 22992.l'

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

in a magazine, said novelty pages a

1. IN COMBINATION, NOVELTY PAGES COMPLYING WITH POSTAL DEPARTMENTREGULATIONS FOR SECOND CLASS MAILING PRIVILEGES FOR INSERTION IN AMAGAZINE, SAID NOVELTY PAGES COMPRISING (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULARSHEET HAVING FRONT AND BACK FACES ADJACENT TO PAGES OF THE MAGAZINE, (B)MEANS SECURING SAID SHEET TO SAID MAGAZINE, (C) A LINE OF DETACHMENT ONSAID SHEET AND DIVIDING SAME INTO AN ADVERTISING COPY PORTION AND ARETURNABLE SINGLE USE MAILER PORTION WITH THE MAILER PORTION DETACHABLEALONG SAID LINE OF DETACHMENT FOR SUBSEQUENT USE ONLY AS A CONTAINERWHEN FORMED BY A USER, (D) SAID MAILER PORTION INCLUDING FRONT AND BACKPANELS HAVING ALIGNED EDGE PORTIONS AND FOLDABLE ALONG A SINGLE MEDIALLINE OF FOLD IN OVERLYING RELATIONSHIP, AFTER THE MAILER PORTION HASBEEN DETACHED FROM THE SAID SHEET BY THE USER, AND (E) ADHESIVE UTILIZEDADJACENT EDGE PORTIONS OF ONE FACE OF SAID MAILER PORTION SO THAT WHENSAID MAILER PORTION IS DETACHED AND THE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID PANELS ARESECURED TOGETHER BY SAID ADHESIVE THEY COOPERATE TO PROVIDE ASUBSTANTIALLY SEALED CONTAINER.